Ments



(No Model.) 7

M. E. WHALBN.

DRESS STEEL.

No. 425,558 Patented Apr. 15. 1890.

INVENTOR i WGTWM ATTORN m: mam mm: 06., mmvuflm, unaumou, 91c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE;

MAR-Y n. WHALEN, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MARY AGNES WHALEN, or SAME PLACE.

DRESS-STEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IatentNo. 425,558, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed September 29, 1887. Serial No. 251,034, (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, MARY E. HALEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dress-tools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to dress-steels, the object of the invention being to provide for the attachment of such steels to dress-linings, so that there will be a flexible connection between the steels and the lining, to so connect the elasticretaining-bands that they will not cut at the point of connection with the steels, and to provide for the holding of the lining to the dress, so that the greatest fullness will be just at the back of the dress,such fullness being desirable, in order that a graceful appearance may be imparted to the drapery.

The invention consists in a dress-steel provided with tabs on its outer side adjacent to its ends carrying rings, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to'be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dresssteel, representing the same as it appears when removed from the lining. Fig. 2 is a view of a dress-lining provided with my improved dress-steel, and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

In constructing such a steel as the one illustrated in the drawings above referred to I provide a fiat band 10 of the required length, and at points near each end of this band I attach flexible loops 11, which carry rings or eyes 12, the connection between the band 10 and the loops 11 being established, preferably, by rivets 13, which also serve to connect clips 14 and 15 to the band 10.

The clip 1 L above referred to is bent over the end of the band 10, and in this overturned portion there is formed a slot 16, the extreme end 17 of the clip being bent back over the slot. The clips are formed from sheetmetal blanks, and after being riveted to the band 10 the edges of these blanks are bent over the edges of the band, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The overturned edges of the clip 14 hold an elastic band 18, and this band is spring'catches 19, any one of which may be brought into engagement with an eye or ring 20, that is held by a looped tongue 21, which is made integral with theclip 15.

To the outer face of the band 10,1 secure an elastic band 22, which passes through a ring 23, secured to the outer face of the band 10 and at the center of said band, the end of this band .or strip 22 being provided with a spring-catch 2%, that is arranged to engage an eye or ring 25, that is also secured to the band 10.

In applying the steel constructed as above described to a dress-lining the steel is passed in between a shirr-strip 26 and the lining, and the lining is attached to the steel by stitches that are passed through the rings or eyes 12. Three apertures are then made in the lining, through one of which the band 22 is passed, While the other apertures provide for the passage of the rings or eyes 23 and 25, the apertures formed in the lining being so placed that there will be considerable fullness of the lining when it is adjusted so as to bring the apertures in register with the attachments that are to pass through them. After the lining has been adjusted as described, the band 28 is carried over the outer face of the lining, through the center ring or eye 23, and its spring-catch 24 is brought intoengagement with the eye or ring 25, which arrangement will serve to hold the lining substantially as represented in Fig.

In illustrating the application of my improved form of dress-steel I have shown a skirt-lining provided with but two of the steels; but it will of course be understood that any proper number of steels could be eniployed. It will also be understood that the strap at the back of the steel may be nonelastic, if desired, and that the means of fastening it and other details relating thereto may be varied without departing from the spiritof my invention.

I am aware of a dress-steel having a shir- The herein-described dress-steel provided ring attachment consisting of a needle atwith tabs on its outer side ad acent to its to t-ached to or connected with the steel, and I ends carrying rings, substantially as set forth. do not claim, broadly, a shining attachment 5 in connection with a dress-steel. MARY- E. VVHALEN.

- Having thus fully described my invention, Witnesses: I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 0. SEDGWIOK, Patent J L. MCAULIFFE. 

